Neon Genesis Evangelion

What is Neon Genesis Evangelion about?

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a TV anime series of 26 episodes animated by GAINAX, based on an original story written for the screen. It aired from October 3, 1995 to March 27, 1996. AniList classifies it as action, drama, mecha and mystery.

Synopsis from AniList. The summary above it is written by FreeAnime.xyz from AniList's data.

Themes AniList users associate with it: Philosophy, Super Robot, Coming of Age, Dystopian, Denpa, Post-Apocalyptic, Angels, Primarily Teen Cast, Psychosexual, Kaiju.

Main characters

Characters AniList lists in a main role, with spoiler-free notes.

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  Shinji Ikari 碇シンジ

  Main character

  Shinji Ikari is the Third Child ('Third Children' in Japanese), who pilots Unit 01. He is the son of Gendo and the late Yui Ikari. Abandoned by his father, Gendo, when he was a toddler, Shinji often ran away from difficult situations. As a pilot, he panics easily and reacts very poorly to unexpected events.

  Japanese voice: Megumi Ogata

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  Misato Katsuragi 葛城ミサト

  Main character

  Misato Katsuragi is the chief operations officer at NERV, initially holding the rank of Captain (with a later promotion to Major). She is the field commander for the Eva pilots, issuing orders and giving battle strategies.

  Japanese voice: Kotono Mitsuishi

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  Rei Ayanami 綾波レイ

  Main character

  Ayanami is the First Child and the pilot of Evangelion Unit 00. She is shown to be socially withdrawn and hardly interacts with anyone. Rei's cool, silent and emotionally-stunted personality has garnered the scorn of her schoolmates; Asuka calls her a "doll" or "puppet".

  Japanese voice: Megumi Hayashibara

• 

  Asuka Langley Souryuu 惣流・アスカ・ラングレー

  Main character

  Asuka is the Second Child ('Second Children' in the Japanese versions of NGE), who pilots Evangelion Unit 02. She is from Germany, but her nationality is American. She has an American father and a half-German, half-Japanese mother.

  Japanese voice: Yuuko Miyamura

Supporting characters

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  Kensuke Aida 相田ケンスケ

  Supporting character

  Kensuke Aida is an otaku, a military buff, Toji's best friend, and one of the "Other Children," Eva pilot candidates in the same class as Shinji, Toji, Rei, Asuka, and Hikari. His hobbies include camping in the mountains surrounding Tokyo-3 and playing at simulated war reenacting - by himself.

  Japanese voice: Tetsuya Iwanaga

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  Ritsuko Akagi 赤木リツコ

  Supporting character

  Ritsuko Akagi is NERV's head scientist and is heavily involved in the repairs and maintenance of Tokyo-3's defenses against the Angels, particularly the Evas. She is the daughter of Naoko Akagi, the developer of the MAGI supercomputer system which controls Nerv.

  Japanese voice: Yuriko Yamaguchi

• 

  Shigeru Aoba 青葉シゲル

  Supporting character

  Shigeru Aoba is First Lieutenant at NERV and a computer technician. At times a stereotypical metal head, he is a nihilist and plays guitar (he can also sometimes be seen strumming an air guitar). Again, his character is not explored in depth within the series. (Source: afufu.net)

  Japanese voice: Takehito Koyasu

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  Kohzou Fuyutsuki 冬月コウゾウ

  Supporting character

  Kozo Fuyutsuki is second-in-command of NERV HQ and Gendo Ikari's right hand man. As Deputy Commander of NERV, Fuyutsuki frequently takes command of situations at the base whenever Gendo is away on business.

  Japanese voice: Motomu Kiyokawa

• 

  Hikari Horaki 洞木ヒカリ

  Supporting character

  Hikari Horaki is the class representative of the class that Shinji and the other Eva pilots attend. Like all of her classmates, she is an unknowing Eva pilot candidate. She has a by-the-book demeanor and takes her responsibilities as "class rep" seriously.

  Japanese voice: Junko Iwao

• 

  Makoto Hyuuga 日向マコト

  Supporting character

  Makoto Hyuga is First Lieutenant at NERV and a computer technician. He is something of a nerd, reading manga while on his break time, but is a hard worker, nonetheless. He also appears to harbor a deep crush for Misato, as Lilith approaches him during his implementation in the form of Misato.

  Japanese voice: Hiro Yuuki

• 

  Maya Ibuki 伊吹マヤ

  Supporting character

  Maya Ibuki is a First Lieutenant at NERV and a computer technician who works primarily with Ritsuko Akagi. Her main role during the fights with the Angels is to constantly monitor the Eva pilots’ synchronization ratios and send various emergency commands to the Evangelions as ordered by Misato or Gendo.

  Japanese voice: Miki Nagasawa

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  Gendou Ikari 碇ゲンドウ

  Supporting character

  Gendou Ikari is the commander of NERV. He is responsible for the research done on the Evas, Rei Ayanami, and the Human Instrumentality Project. He is the father of the Third Children, Shinji Ikari, and the guardian of Rei. His original surname was Rokubungi, but he changed it to Ikari following his marriage to Yui.

  Japanese voice: Fumihiko Tachiki

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  Yui Ikari 碇ユイ

  Supporting character

  Ikari Shinji's mother and wife of Gendou Ikari.

  Japanese voice: Megumi Hayashibara

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  Ryouji Kaji 加持リョウジ

  Supporting character

  Kaji, while only being a special inspector, secretly works for SEELE investigating NERV's true intentions. During college, he had a serious relationship with Misato, but after having long broken up, they see each other again on the UN fleet ferrying Unit 02 and its pilot, Asuka Langley Soryu, to Japan.

  Japanese voice: Kouichi Yamadera

• 

  Touji Suzuhara 鈴原トウジ

  Supporting character

  Toji is a tough boy, the stereotypical "jock," and is in constant conflict with Asuka. His younger sister was injured in the battle between the third Angel, Sachiel, and Unit 01, and he beats Shinji up soon after for being indirectly responsible.

  Japanese voice: Tomokazu Seki

• 

  Pen Pen ペンペン

  Supporting character

  Pen Pen is a hot-spring penguin who lives with Misato Katsuragi as her pet. He lives in a refrigerator and is a source of company and comfort to Misato, who has problems of her own.

  Japanese voice: Megumi Hayashibara